Midland's water security at stake amid wastewater disposal debate

In a bold move, Midland, Texas, is challenging the approval of oil and gas industry wastewater disposal wells near its vital water source.

Vernon Loeb reports for Inside Climate News.

In short:

Midland contests permits for wastewater wells near its drinking water source, fearing contamination.
The city's challenge, accepted by Texas regulators, underscores the tension between oil industry demands and environmental safety.
A hearing is set for January 2024, spotlighting the broader issue of wastewater disposal in oil-rich regions.

Key quote:

“I think the dangerous part of the architecture is not so much the disposal well. . . it's probably old aging infrastructure that might be in place from the sixties and seventies that’s still operating.”

— Laura Capper, principal consultant for EnergyMakers Advisory Group in Houston.

Why this matters:

This case could set a precedent for how cities safeguard their water resources against industrial threats, a crucial aspect of public health.

Did you know? Chemicals from fracking wastewater dumped into Pennsylvania's Allegheny River continued accumulating in freshwater mussels five years later.

Question for the reader:

How should cities balance industrial development with environmental protection, especially concerning water safety?

AI-based tools helped produce this text, with human oversight and editing.

insideclimatenews.org

Midland's water security at stake amid wastewater disposal debate

Clothes that cool you, warm you — and make power as you move

Gas from thawing Arctic permafrost is changing world's climate future

‘Explosion of melt rates’: 20% of Swiss glaciers lost in five years

Climate change’s compounding pressures on rural North Carolina

The true cost of Trump's fuel economy rollbacks

Montana officials praise repeal of power plant emission regulations, watchdog groups pan decision

The surprising allies backing Boulder's climate case before the Supreme Court

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.